Nimali dazzles to win Gold in India

22nd Asian Athletics Meet

SL claims three Silver Medals on final day

By Susil Premalal reporting from India

Sri Lanka’s Nimali Liyanarachchi put up a stunning performance to win the Gold Medal in the Women’s 800m event on the final day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship which concluded at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India yesterday.

Even then, it was through a technical fault that Nimali was awarded the gold medal after India’s Archana Jadhav who originally won the race was later disqualified from the event.

The Sri Lankan Team Management lodged a complaint with the Appeal Board and they found that Archana had obstructed Nimali during the course of the race.

Nimali returned a time of 2:05.23 seconds and her teammate Gayanthika Abeyratne (who initially finished third) had the satisfaction of winning the Silver Medal with a time of 2:05.27 seconds.

Earlier, Rumeshika Rathnayake also produced a fine performance to take the Silver Medal in the Women’s 200m with a time of 23.43 seconds.

Sri Lanka’s third silver medal of the day came through their 4X400m relay team as they finished second with a time of 3:04.80 seconds.
The relay team comprised of Tharaka Dananjaya, Kalinga Kumarage, Ajith Premakumara and Dilip Ruwan.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Indunil Herath was placed fifth in the Men’s 800m with a time of 1:50.57 seconds.

In addition Dhanuka Liyanapathirana was placed eighth in the Men’s long jump and Varuna Lakshan also was pushed into eighth place in the Men’s javelin throw.